Straight bar knitting machine and method



July 26, 1966 H. E. WOODCOCK ETA!- 3,262,287

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 6, 1962 July 26, 1966 H. E. WOODCOCK ET AL 3,262,287

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hi I a? July 26, 1966 H. E. WOODCOCK ET AL 3,262,287

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 6, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 26, 1966 H. E. WOODCOCK ET 3,262,287

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 6, 1962 w u a; o wmr JK Z J; Mu .Wd /M e I? m r H r g 5 l: o (K 7 4 July 26, 1966 H. E. WOODCOCK ET AL 3,262,287

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 6, 1962 l-11.1 J. f ik United States Patent 3,262,287 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Herbert E. Woodcock, Wilton Hill, Hawick, and Francis Simpson, Wilton Dean, I-Iawiclr, Scotland, assignors, by mesne assignments, to William Cotton Limited, Loughborough, England Filed Sept. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 221,837 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 9, 1961, 32,432/ 61 12 Claims. (Cl. 66-90) This invention is for improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines and is concerned with the production, on Cottons Patent or similar straight bar knitting machines, or selvedged fabric knitted for example from multi-thread yarns, for which purpose a number of thread packages are mounted on the machines for any individual knitting section and all the threads from these packages are guided in a bunch to a common thread carrier for knitting together as a multi-thread in the individual knitting section.

Some difiiculty has been experienced in obtaining satisfactory selvedges with these multi-thread yarns because the threads of the old loops and newly laid yarn on the selvedge needles tend to spread towards each other without leaving a gap between them for closing of the selvedge needle beard between them, and this can result in splicing of selvedge loop threads and in dropped selvedge loops.

An object of the invention is to ensure that when multithread or other yarns are used in said machines to produce knitted fabric, the fabric has satisfatcory selvedges.

The invention provides the production, from a multithread or other yarn in a Cottons Patent or similar straight bar knitting machine, of knitted fabric having satisfactory selvedges, by the employment in the machine of yarn control elements, said elements operating at the selvedges to hold the old selvedge loops and newly laid selvedge yarn positively separated while the needles operate to press the beards between the loops and yarn and land the loops on the beards.

The invention also provides a Cottons Patent or other similar straight bar knitting machine having selvedge control means comprising, yarn engaging fingers for operation at the selvedges, mounting means mounting the fingers above the selvedges for substantially horizontal advance and retraction towards and away from the needles, and operating means adapted to advance the fingers when the thread carrier is at the selvedges such that the fingers become engaged under the next newly laid selvedge yarn and thereby hold it positively spaced from the selvedge loops until after the ensuing beard pressing and landing of the selvedge loops on the beards. Conveniently said fingers are adjustable with adjustment of the selvedge stops to follow the selvedges during widening and narrowing. Conveniently also said fingers are movably mounted on blocks which are adjustable with the selvedge stops, motion transmitting mechanism is connected to the fingers and is associated with said blocks, and cam operated mechanism is operatively connected to said motion transmitting mechanism through the intermediary of a common bar which is rocked by the cam operated mechanism for advancing and retracting the fingers and on which the blocks are freely mounted to permit their adjustments. Conveniently the rfingers .are in the form of blades mounted on slides in said blocks. Conveniently also the blocks are mounted on a pair of rods secured to the blocks respectively, the rods being connected respectively to oppositely screw threaded adjustment screws. The adjustment screws may be separate from the selvedge stop adjustment screws and connected thereto by gearing.

In one arrangement the fingers are blades having their free ends substantially squared and on edge, and operat ing means are suitable to advance each finger at the inner side of the selvedge yarn leading to the thread carrier so that the next newly laid selvedge yarn engages over the finger.

In another arrangement the fingers are blades of L shape with laterally projecting ends directed towards each other, one operating means is suitable to advance each element at the outer side of the selvedge yarn after the final outward movement of the thread carrier, and another opertaing means is suitable to move the advanced element towards the other, so that the next newly laid selvedge yarn becomes disposed over the laterally projecting end of the advanced element.

The above and other features of the invention set out in the appended claims are incorporated in the construction which will now be described, as a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the use of a yarn control element according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a detail side view' of said element in position associated with knitting instruments of a Cottons Patent or similar straight bar knitting machine;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing operating means for said elements;

FIGURE 4 is a detail plan view showing further operating means for said elements;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of a Cottons Patent straight bar knitting machine embodying yarn control elements as in FIGURES 1 to 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view of a Cottons Patent straight bar knitting machine embodying yarn control elements in a modified arrangement according to the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of relevant parts of said modifying arrangement;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail perspective View of part of FIG. 7;

FIGURE 9 is a further enlarged perspective view of part of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGURE 1 a selvedge needle of a Cottons Patent or similar straight bar knitting machine is indicated at 1 with a selvedge needle loop SL of fabric F on it. The yarn Y is in this example a multi-thread yarn, i.e. a yarn made up of a plurality of threads, such for example as eight ends of 2/ 16s, all fed to the needles such as 1 through a common thread carrier from a plurality ofyarn packages mounted on the machine in known manner.

The aforesaid difiiculty of maintaining the selvedge needle loop SL spaced from the yarn Y newly laid on the needles as at NY is overcome by having for each selvedge, a yarn control element 2 which in this example is L- shaped.

This element 2 is employed as shown in FIGURE 1 for its end lateral projection 2a to be spaced a short distance upwardly from the fabric F and there to catch that length of yarn Y which extends from the selvedge needle loop SL to the thread carrier so that the newly laid yarn NY is spaced by the lateral projection 2a away from the old selvedge loop by the distance to which the lateral projection 2a is spaced upwardly from the fabric F.

The element 2 is held thus for the pressing and landing stages so that the needle beard 1a can be satisfactorily pressed between the selvedge needle loop SL and the newly laid yarn NY while the selvedge needle loop SL becomes landed on to the beard in required manner. Thus fabric can be knitted from multi-thread or other yarn with satisfactory selvedges.

In a multi-section machine there will of course be one of said elements for each selvedge in each knitting section, the lateral projections being directed inwardly of their respective selvedges.

Conveniently said element 2 is of tapered blade-like form as shown, both the stem 2b and the lateral projection 2a tapering to desired degree.

FIGURE 2 shows the element 2 associated with the usual sinkers S, knocking over bits K, and said needles 1.

The element 2 conveniently projects from a slide 3 (FIGURE 3) having slidable engagement in a slide box 4 for slidable displacement into and out of operative position at the non-beard side of the needles in the region of the selvedge.

The slide box 4 is conveniently mounted on a pair of mounting rods 5, 6 and for sliding the slide 3 (and element 2) in the slide box 4, the slide 3 has a link connection 7 to one arm 8a of a bell crank lever 8, the other arm 8b projecting to between a pair of spaced operating bars 9, 10. The latter are laterally displaceable up and down by any suitable cam or other pattern controlled motion transmitting mechanism represented by the attached lever 11.

The element is also displaceable sideways to catch said length of yarn conveniently at the stage when the carrier is at the end of its traverse and the needles are at knock over level, said length of yarn at this stage extending in inclined manner from the selvedge needle loop SL to the thread carrier, and the element 2 being spaced outwardly from the selvedge and having a movement inwardly of the selvedge to catch the inclined length of yarn and deflect it into angular shape as shown in FIGURES l and 3.

In this position there is a short length SY of the yarn extending from the fabric F substantially straight up to the lateral projection 2a and another short length SYl extending from the lateral projection 2a substantially horizontally to the beard side of the needle 1, as shown, when the thread carrier sets in for the next draw, so that the selvedge needle loop SL and the newly laid yarn NY are spaced as required.

The sideways displacement of the element 2 can be conveniently effected by having a block 12 (FIGURE 4) slidably mounted on said rod between a pair of end stops 13, 14 fixed on the rod 5, there being also two pairs of complementary end cam faced bosses 15, 16 and 17, 18 whereof the cam faced bosses 16, 17 are on a sleeve 19, which is rotatable on the stationary shaft 5, and the cam faced bosses 15, 18 are secured to the fixed stops 13, 14 so that upon turning the cam faced bosses 16, 17 by an arm 17a in one direction, cam faced boss '17 acts on the cam faced boss 18 and as allowed by boss 15, displaces the rod 5 and consequently displaces element 2 outwardly of the selvedge to set it, and upon return rotation of bosses 16, 17 by arm 17a in the opposite direction, the cam faced boss 16 acts on the cam faced boss and as allowed by boss 18 returns the rod 5 and element 2 1n the yarn deflecting direction.

The arm 17a is operable by an operating bar 20 which is displaceable laterally up and down by any cam or other pattern controlled motion transmitting mechanism such as represented by arm 21 and rocking rod 22.

The element is also sideways displaceable in synchronism with narrowing and widening displacements, for the element to follow the selvedge, and for this, said block 12 has a screw nut portion 12a on an adjusting screw 23 operable through any suitable motion transmitting mechanism from the usual selvedge stop adjustment means. This screw also serves as a support for the block 12 to hold the latter stationary while the cam faced boss 17 is turned to displace the rod 5, using the block 12 as an abutment.

The bars 9, 10 for operating the element 2 allow for the fashioning adjustment and for the operating displacement of the element, the arm 18!) riding along the bars during the displacement such that the element 2 is slidable in the mounting in any sideways position of the mounting.

Similarly the bar 20 allows for operation of the arm 17a in any position of fashioning adjustment of the block 12.

Referring now to the accompanying FIGURE 5, the machine is represented by the needles 1 being mounted on the usual needle bar 24 operated through usual cam follower mechanism 25 from usual cams on the main cam shaft 26, the sinkers S, knocking over bits K, thread carrier T and template rail 27.

In addition the advance and retraction of the elements 2 are obtained by the lever 11 being connected by a link 28 to a cam follower lever 29 having a cam follower 30 riding on a suitably shaped cam 31 on the main cam shaft 26.

The sideways movement of the elements 2 is obtained by the rod 22 being rocked by an arm 32 which is connected to the rod and a link 33 which connects the lever 32 to a cam follower lever 34 having a cam follower 35 riding on a suitably shaped cam 36 on the main cam shaft 26.

The adjustable operation of the adjustable screw 23 is obtained through bevel gearing 37, associated bevel gearing 39 and further associated bevel gearing 40 driven by the usual selvedge stop adjustable screw mechanism 41, the stops, represented at 42 functioning to vary the amplitude of movement of the thread carrier T in usual manner.

Referring now to FIGURE 6 showing a modified arrangement, the yarn control elements in this instance are in the form of substantially square ended blades 43 disposed on edge.

These blades 43 are carried in substantially the same manner as the previously described elements 2, on the slide 3 in the slide box 4 mounted on the rods 5 and 6, the slide 3 having a link connection 7 to mechanism for moving the slide 3 and the element 2 towards and away from the needles 1.

In this arrangement the link 7 is connected to a lever 44, see also FIGURE 7 and particularly FIGURE 8 which is freely mounted on a rod 45 and is connected to the rod 45 through the intermediary of a rod 46 and an arm 47, the rod 45 being rocked through an arm 48 connected by a link 49 to a cam follower lever 50 having a cam follower 51 hearing on a suitably shaped cam 52 on the main cam shaft 26.

The free mounting of the lever 44 on the rod 45 is to allow for the sideways adjustment of the block 4, the latter having a fork part 411 to carry the lever 44 with it in its adjustment, and the lever 44 being also free on the rod 46 for this purpose.

Rods 5 and 6 are adjusted with the selvedge stop adjustment in substantially the same manner as in the first described arrangement, through Iblocks 12, 12 FIGURE 7, the oppositely screw threaded adjustment screw 23, and the bevel gearing 37, 39 and 40.

In operation of this modification the blade 43, FIG- URE 9, is advanced (by operation of the cam 52) at a time when the thread carrier T is at the end of its stroke (as shown in broken lines), whereat the selvedge yarn Y (also shown in broken lines), extends beyond the 10- cat-ion of the blade 43.

Consequently when the carrier T sets in for the next course, the selvedge yarn Y engages the blade 43 and extends over it (as shown in full lines); the result is that the selvedge yarn Y and the selvedge loop SL on the selvedge need-1e are held positively separated (by the blade 43 until after the ensuing pressing of the needle beards between the yarn Y and the loop SL, and landing of the loop SL on the beards, with the same satisfactory results as in the first described arrangement.

One advantage of the second arrangement over the first arrangement is that the first arrangement requires advance and lateral motions of the element to engage the yarn Y whereas in the second arrangement the element requires only advance motion to engage the yarn Y.

It is to be understood that although the invention has been particularly described with reference to multi thread yarns, it is equally applicable to other yarns.

The invention is particularly applicable to the production of fabric as disclosed in our US. Patent application Ser. No. 239,256.

What we claim is:

1. The method of making a selvedge on a fabric knitted in a straight bar knitting machine, comprising the step of holding an old selvedge loop on a needle and newly laid selvedge yarn spaced and separated from each other so that the point of a closed needle beard is located in the region of the needle between said old loop and said newly laid selvedge yarn whereby the loops can be landed on the beards.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine, including a yarn carrier, and bearded needles, in combination, selvedge control means comprising yarn engaging means; means for mounting said yarn engaging means for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position located closely spaced from said needles; and operating means for moving said yarn engaging means to said operative position when said yarn carrier lays a selvedge yarn, said yarn engaging means in said operative position being adapted to separate old loops on said needles from selvedge yarn newly laid by said yarn carrier, and to hold the latter spaced from the old loops while said bearded needles are pressed.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine, including needles having beards and a yarn carrier, in combination, selvedge control means comprising yarn engaging fingers for operation at the selvedges of a fabric knitted on said needles; mounting means mounting said fingers above said selvedges of the fabric for substantially horizontal advance and retraction toward and away from said needles, respectively, and operating means for advancing said yarn engaging fingers when said yarn carrier is at the selvedges, said operating means placing said yarn engaging fingers in such a position that said fingers become engaged under the next selvedge yarn newly laid by said yarn carrier and hold said newly laid selvedge yarn positively spaced from the selvedge loops until after the ensuing beard pressing and landing of the selvedge loops on the beards of the needles.

4. A machine according to claim 3 and including adjusting means for adjusting said yarn engaging fingers to follow the selvedges during widening and narrowing of the fabric.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said mounting means include blocks for movably mounting said yarn engaging fingers, and adjusting means for adjusting the position of said blocks to follow the selvedges during widening and narrowing; and wherein said operating means include motion transmitting mechanism connected to said yarn engaging fingers and to said blocks, cam operated mechanism operatively connected to said motion transmitting mechanism, and including a rocked bar connected to said yarn engaging fingers for advancing and retracting the same, and slidably supporting said blocks for movement along the same to adjusted positions.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said yarn engaging fingers are blades mounted for sliding movement in said blocks.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 5 and including a pair of rods secured to said blocks, respectively; and oppositely threaded adjustment screws respectively connected to said rods.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 including selvedge stop adjustment screws, and gear means connecting said oppositely threaded adjustment screws with said selvedge stop adjustment screws.

9. A machine according to claim 3 wherein said yarn engaging fingers are blades having substantially rectangular free ends with a longer dimension extending in the direction of said needles; and wherein said operating means advance each yarn engaging finger at the inner side of the selvedge yarn leading to said yarn carrier so that the next newly laid selvedge yarn passes over said yarn engaging finger.

10. A machine according to claim 3 wherein each of said yarn engaging fingers is an L-shaped blade having a lateral projection pointing towards the next adjacent blade; and wherein said operating means include a first operating means for advancing each yarn engaging finger at the outer side of the selvedge yarn after the final outward movement of the yarn carrier, and a second operating means for moving the advanced yarn engaging finger toward the adjacent yarn engaging finger so that a next newly laid selvedge yarn is disposed over the lateral projection of the advanced yarn engaging finger.

11. A selvedge control means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said yarn engaging means is a straight blade of rectangular cross-section; and wherein said operating means reciprocate said blade toward and away from said needles.

12. A selvedge control means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said yarn engaging means is angular and has a first portion transverse to a row of said needles, and a second portion parallel to said row of needles; and wherein said operating means include first operating means for moving said yarn engaging means in the direction of said first portion toward and away from said row of needles, and second operating means for moving said yarn engaging means in the direction of said second portion parallel to said row of needles.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,442 4/1953 Dostrnann 6682 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, DONALD W. PARKER,

Examiners. R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

2. IN A STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE, INCLUDING A YARN CARRIER, AND BEARDED NEEDLES, IN COMBINATION, SELVEDGE CONTROL MEANS COMPRISING YARN ENGAGING MEANS; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID YARN ENGAGING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION LOCATED CLOSELY SPACED FROM SAID NEEDLES; AND OPERATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID YARN ENGAGING MEANS TO SAID OPERATIVE POSITION WHEN SAID YARN CARRIER LAYS A SELVEDGE YARN, SAID YARN ENGAGING MEANS IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION BEING ADAPTED TO SEPARATE OLD LOOPS ON SAID NEEDLES FROM SELVEDGE YARN NEWLY LAID BY SAID YARN CARRIER, AND TO HOLD THE LATTER SPACED FROM THE OLD LOOPS WHILE SAID BEARDED NEEDLES ARE PRESSED. 